Gas conversion means and method



Dec. 10, 1968 s. s. ANTHONY GAS CONVERSION MEANS AND METHOD Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR STEVE S. ANTIHONY BY Mi. \A-W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,415,633 GAS CONVERSION MEANS AND METHOD Steve S. Anthony, Brighton, Mich., assignor of one-half to Earl J. Berwick, Detroit, Mich. Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,522 11 Claims. (Cl. 48-196) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for removing impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen from natural gas by passing the gas through a solution containing methyl salicylate.

The present invention relates to the cutting and welding of metal and more particularly to a new means for increasing the pressure of and removing the impurities from natural gas so that it may be used as the fuel for welding and cutting torches or the like.

Heretofore acetylene gas or other manufactured gases have been used where intense heat is required such as in torches for cutting or welding metal. It has not been heretofore possible to utilize natural gas for this purpose because the pressure of such gas as it is delivered through the supply lines is too low and because in the form that it is delivered it is not capable of producing suflicient heat for this purpose. The heat producing capability of natural gas varies with the percentage of methane within the gas, called the methane rating, and this percentage will vary depending upon the particular source of the gas.

Increasing the methane rating of the gas by decreasing the impurities such as sulphur and nitrogen in the gas substantially increases its heat producing capabilities and permits it to be used if the pressure is also increased, as a fuel for cutting and welding torches or the like. The present invention provides a means and a method for producing this result.

It is an object then of the present invention to reduce the costs of cutting and Welding metal by providing a means and a method for utilizing natural gas as the fuel for welding and cutting torches.

It is another object of the present invention to increase the heating capabilities of natural gas by providing a means and a method for removing impurities from natural gas to thereby increase the methane rating.

It is still another object of the present invention to increase the methane rating of natural gas by directing the natural gas through a solution containing methyl salicylate for the purpose of removing sulphur and nitrogen from the gas.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred means and method of carrying out the invention. The description makes reference to the following drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system embodying the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a system utilizing components illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically and FIG. 2 illustrates in elevation one preferred system for carrying out the invention as comprising an inlet connector adapted for connection to a natural gas source (not shown) such as the inlet pipe provided by natural gas suppliers. The inlet connector 10 is connected by a conduit 12 through a solenoid actuated valve 14 to a first tank 16. The tank 16 is connected through a compressor 18 by a conduit 20 to a reservoir 22 and the reservoir 22 is connected by conduit 24 through a pressure regulator 26 to a second tank 28. The tank 28 is provided with an outlet conduit 29 for connecting the system through a manifold (not shown), if desired, to one or more cutting or welding tools.

The first tank 16, as can best be seen in FIG. 1, preferably carries a solution generally indicated at 30 and which will be described in greater detail below and is provided with an inlet conduit 32 opening to the interior of the tank 16 below the level of the solution 30. The outlet 34 to the tank 16 opens to the interior of the tank 16 above the level of the solution 30 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. The tank 16 is preferably provided with ;a level indicating means 35 exteriorly of the tank 16 as shown in FIG. 2 so that the level of the solution 30 can be readily ascertained.

The compressor 18 is preferably of a sealed construction so that no outside air is permitted to become mixed with the natural gas as it is being compressed and is preferably driven by an electric motor 36. The reservoir 22 is preferably provided with a pressure sensing and indicating means 3-8 electrically connected through control relays (not shown) carried by a control box 40 to the motor 36 and the solenoid actuated. valve 14.

The second tank 28 preferably carries a conventional centrifuge type separator 37 so that gas discharged through the outlet conduit 29 is devoid of any liquid sugstances.

The system operates as follows; Natural gas is delivered to the inlet connector 10 from the suppliers lines. Because such lines are used to supply natural gas to many consumers from remote sources and because of the leakage problems which would otherwise be produced, the natural gas is delivered to the consumer at a relatively low pressure, generally about A p.s.i. This pressure is not sufficiently high for use in torches for cutting or welding metal.

With the solenoid actuated valve 14 in an open position the natural gas is directed through the inlet conduit 32 into the interior of the first tank 16. As explained above, the inlet conduit 32 opens to the interior of the tank 16 below the level of the solution 30 so that the natural gas will pass upwardly through the solution 30 to the outlet 34 of the tank 16.

The solution 30 comprises a mixture of an antirust material, a substance having an alkaline base, and methyl salicylate. These substances are mixed in a suitable mixing medium such as distilled water. A mixture which has been found to be suitable is approximately four ounces of methyl salicylate, seven ounces of antirust material and two ounces of the alkaline base material to a gallon of distilled water. As the natural gas passes through the solution 30 some portion of it is picked up by the gas and carried through the system. The antirust material protects the system from the rusting action which would be caused by that portion of the solution 30 which is car ried through the system. The alkaline base material is provided to dissolve any petroleum products which may be present in the natural gas and the methyl salicylate removes the nitrogen and sulphur from the natural gas and retains the greater part of these impurities within the tank 16.

The cleansed natural gas passes from the outlet 34 to the compressor 18 where it is compressed and delivered to the reservoir 22 at an increased pressure as for instance in the particular system illustrated, p.s.i. The natural gas to be used as a fuel for cutting torches or the like is delivered to the user from the reservoir 22 at the increased pressure after first passing through the second tank 28. The second tank 28 contains a centrifuge or similar type separator 37 so that any liquid including 3 the solution 30 and impurities carried by the solution 30 which may still be in the natural gas is removed prior to delivery to the user.

By dissolving the petroleum products Within the natural gas and by removing the nitrogen and sulphur from the gas the solution 30 substantially increases the methane rating of the gas. This rating is further increased by the removal of any liquids by the separator 37 carried by the tank 28 so that 'by increasing the pressure with the compressor 18 the natural gas can be used as a fuel for cutting or welding torches in place of the much more expensive acetylene or other manufactured gases.

The electrical system is of a conventional construction and is provided to open the 'valve 14 and to actuate the motor 36 when the pressure sensing and indicating means 38 determines that more gas is needed for the reservoir 22.

It is apparent that a means and a method have been described which permits natural gas to be used as a fuel where intense heat is necessary. The mehod disclosed essentially comprises the steps of directing the natural gas through the solution described above, elevating the pressure of the natural gas, and removing any liquid which may be carried by the gas. A particular means has been described for carrying out this method although it is apparent that means other than those disclosed could be used as well.

The result is a much more inexpensive fuel which performs as well as more expensive manufactured gases as a fuel for cutting and welding torches.

It is also apparent that although I have described but one embodiment of my invention, many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for processing natural gas comprising (a) a first tank carrying a solution containing methyl salicylate,

(b) means directing the natural gas into said first tank and through said solution.

(c) a compressor and means directing the natural gas from said first tank through said compressor,

(d) a storage tank and means directing the natural gas from said compressor and into said storage tank, and

(e) a second tank containing means for removing liquid from the natural gas and means directing the natural gas from said storage tank to said second tank.

2. The means as defined in claim 1 and in which said solution further comprises an alkaline base material.

3. The means as defined in claim 1 and in which said solution further comprises an antirust material.

4. The means as defined in claim 2 and in which said solution further comprises an antirust material.

5. The system for processing natural gas comprising,

(a) means for elevating the pressure of the natural gas to a predetermined value,

(b) means for removing nitrogen and sulphur from the natural gas,

(c) means for removing liquid particles from the natural gas, and

(d) means for connecting each of said aforementioned means in series with said liquid removing means connected downstream from said nitrogen and sulphur removing means.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 and in which said nitrogen and sulphur removing means comprises (a) a tank and a solution carried within said tank,

(b) means directing the natural gas through said solution.

(c) said solution comprising a liquid containing methyl salicylate.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 and in which said solution further comprises an antirust substance and a substance having an alkaline base.

8. A method for processing natural gas comprising the steps of (a) directing the natural gas through a liquid solution containing methyl salicylate,

(b) compressing the natural gas to elevate the pressure to a predetermined value, and

(c) removing liquid particles from the natural gas.

9. A method for processing natural gas comprising the steps of (a) directing the natural gas through a solution containing methyl salicylate, and

(lb) compressing the natural gas to elevate the pressure to a predetermined value.

10. A method for processing natural gas comprising the steps of (a) directing the natural gas through a solution containing methyl salicylate, an antirust substance and an alkali base substance, and

(b) elevating the pressure of the natural gas to a predetermined value.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 and including the step of removing liquid particles from the gas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,590 4/1929 Reeson 23-3 2,083,213 6/1937 Baehn et al. 233 2,557,171 6/1951 Bodle et al. 48-196 2,869,978 1/1959 Fischer 23-3 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

R. E. SERWIN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 233; 55--73 217 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. December 10, 968

3,415,633 Dated Inventor(s) Steve S. Anthony It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE CLAIMS:

Claim 1, Column 3, line 41, follo lving "solution" delete the period and insert a comma Claim 6, Column 4, line 15, following; "solution" delete the period and insert a comma ISIGNED AND SEALED MAR 3 11970 (SEAL) Anew EdwndH-Flelchmln VII-151:1 E. 'SGHUYL'H-l, JR Wm Comissioner of Patents 

